ALINARI/TOPFOTO
Picture purr-fect
Summer 1966
‘This is at Mick’s new flat in Harley House, Marylebone. I think the cat belonged to Chrissie Shrimpton, who was his girlfriend at the time. It was an opportunity to get an unusual photograph of him – he’s not somebody who is seen with animals very often. I like it because of its informality. Mick was always very comfortable in front of the camera.’
Gered Mankowitz was just 18 when he began photographing The Rolling Stones. Between 1965 and 1967, he enjoyed a fruitful partnership with the band – his pictures appeared on their album covers, posters and tour programmes. He gained access to both their stages and their homes, capturing them in performance and behind the scenes. Now, almost 60 years on, he has returned to his rich archive to curate a book of rare and unseen pictures from this time.